Debate contribution: Decolonisation of Museum Collections and Repatriation of Artefacts

Debate contribution by Mrs Sinéad Ennis on 20 May 2025.

MLA

Mrs Sinéad Ennis

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

20 May 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Decolonisation of Museum Collections and Repatriation of Artefacts

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4963970

Read the official Assembly record

Text

No, I will make some progress on my speech, if you do not mind. There can be no question of the devastating impact of colonialism around the world. In many ways, the cultural, social and political impact is still being felt by communities today. Exploitation, theft and the infliction of human suffering were the stock-in-trade of European and Western colonial powers down through the centuries. Acknowledging the many wrongs that have been committed by empire and promoting the understanding of the exploitative nature of colonialism is something that we should all support. Addressing the issue of stolen artefacts that have found their way into museums on this island is part of that. In that regard, I commend the work of National Museums NI for its efforts to decolonise its collection through its ethics policy. I look forward to seeing that work continue and grow.

I will make some progress, thank you. The recent return of human remains and other objects to Hawaii is a perfect example of how collections can be decolonised and why it is so important. Those artefacts, in many cases, hold profound historical, cultural and spiritual significance to people in their country of origin. They are often sacred objects with immense value. They are not curiosities to momentarily amuse visitors. The efforts of some museums to decolonise collections should be noted by others who should also be doing their bit to support that work. In particular, the British Government should reflect on their attitude to looted artefacts. They could start by reversing their decision to exclude National Museums and Galleries from certain sections of the Charities Act 2022 and allowing for the facilitation of the repatriation of looted artefacts, on request, to their countries of origin. I urge the Communities Minister to engage with the Advisory Committee on the Restitution and Repatriation of Cultural Heritage in the South with a view to establishing best practice for the repatriation of artefacts. Some comments today have, unfortunately, been indicative of the prevailing Western attitude that Western museums are the best place for the artefacts to be kept. My party argues that the best place for the Benin Bronzes, for example, is Benin and that the best place for Egyptian mummies is, in fact, Egypt. My colleague Emma Sheerin made a good point: repatriation does not mean erasure. We have the internet, international loans and cultural exchanges. That means that artefacts do not need to be locked in Paris or London for people to appreciate them. Excuses that are often given for not returning artefacts, such as claims that they will not be looked after properly in their own country, are echoes of a lingering colonial mindset. The issue of artefacts taken from Ireland by the British Empire should also be addressed. Right now, museums and libraries in Britain hold thousands of objects of Irish origin, including everything from priceless artefacts such as ogham stones and the Mount Keefe chalice to ancient documents and manuscripts that tell the story of our island. Only a handful of requests for their return has been acknowledged. It was only two years ago that the Hunterian Museum removed the remains of Charles O'Brien from display, a fate that, the so-called Irish giant specifically stated on his deathbed, he did not want. Having removed the display, the museum still intends to keep his remains in storage. It may not always be possible or appropriate to return certain artefacts, but every effort should be made to engage meaningfully with countries, communities and organisations that make a request. If nothing else, it shows a generosity of spirit to, at least, listen to people and communities that have been impacted by the theft of what are significant cultural — even, at times, spiritual — artefacts. That is why we will oppose the Ulster Unionist Party amendment, which would remove the important reference to:

"cooperating with requests for the repatriation of art and artefacts"

from the indigenous communities or societies impacted by the theft of their cultural heritage. The legacy of colonialism can still be felt today. Returning the artefacts are not just symbolic acts; they are restorative ones. They challenge the idea that colonial institutions are the rightful keepers of other people's heritage. They remind us that reconciliation is not only about the past but about present justice and future relationships. If anything, the debate has shown that the ultimate goal is to decolonise minds, but we can, at least, start by decolonising museums.

746 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:32 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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